Over the past six years Razak Hussain has managed to clock up 100 parking tickets but has failed to pay any of the fines, which now total #4,000.

Now, at last, Newcastle City Council is getting tough on people like Mr Hussain and has roped in the county court to back it in its efforts to enforce the law.

Sadly, Mr Hussain is not alone in flouting the law. Newcastle City Council currently has 20,094 outstanding parking tickets and although it has made great efforts to pursue these offenders - the figure is down from three years ago when the figure stood at 47,000 parking fines - it is still owed far too much.

In April this year it was revealed the city council had been forced to write off 15,000 parking debts totalling #493,000, money which could have been pumped into road safety schemes and highway improvements around the city.

If Mr Hussain gets away with not paying these fines it will send completely the wrong message to other offenders who refuse to pay.

It will also send the wrong message to law abiding citizens who pay up when given a parking ticket.

Hopefully, with the council and the county court working together, Mr Hussain will now pay the money he owes.